Abstract

Graphene Josephson junctions provide a promising platform for ultra-broadband quantum sensing of light owing to graphene’s frequency-independent absorption, vanishing electronic heat capacity, and weak electron–phonon coupling, which enable rapid suppression of the critical current through radiation-induced electron heating. Existing investigations have been confined to the microwave and infrared regimes, where competing detector technologies are already established; by contrast, the terahertz (THz) band - where sensitivity is most urgently lacking and no mature quantum sensor exists - has remained largely unexplored. Here we demonstrate a strong photoresponse of graphene JJs at THz frequencies, establishing a first experimental step towards graphene-based THz quantum sensors. Under low-intensity illumination, we observe a pronounced suppression of the critical current that generates a strong photovoltage (Vph) under current bias. By tracking this Vph and independently measuring the electron temperature as a function of absorbed power, we extract a responsivity of 88 kV W−1 and a noise-equivalent power of 45 aW Hz⁻¹/2 at 1.7 K. Furthermore, gate tunability of our JJ enables access to a regime where hysteretic current–voltage characteristics persist up to 0.9 K, offering a potential route toward single-photon THz detection beyond millikelvin temperatures.

Abstract

Graphene Josephson junctions provide a promising platform for ultra-broadband quantum sensing of light owing to graphene’s frequency-independent absorption, vanishing electronic heat capacity, and weak electron–phonon coupling, which enable rapid suppression of the critical current through radiation-induced electron heating. Existing investigations have been confined to the microwave and infrared regimes, where competing detector technologies are already established; by contrast, the terahertz (THz) band - where sensitivity is most urgently lacking and no mature quantum sensor exists - has remained largely unexplored. Here we demonstrate a strong photoresponse of graphene JJs at THz frequencies, establishing a first experimental step towards graphene-based THz quantum sensors. Under low-intensity illumination, we observe a pronounced suppression of the critical current that generates a strong photovoltage (Vph) under current bias. By tracking this Vph and independently measuring the electron temperature as a function of absorbed power, we extract a responsivity of 88 kV W−1 and a noise-equivalent power of 45 aW Hz⁻¹/2 at 1.7 K. Furthermore, gate tunability of our JJ enables access to a regime where hysteretic current–voltage characteristics persist up to 0.9 K, offering a potential route toward single-photon THz detection beyond millikelvin temperatures.

Abstract

Graphene Josephson junctions provide a promising platform for ultra-broadband quantum sensing of light owing to graphene’s frequency-independent absorption, vanishing electronic heat capacity, and weak electron–phonon coupling, which enable rapid suppression of the critical current through radiation-induced electron heating. Existing investigations have been confined to the microwave and infrared regimes, where competing detector technologies are already established; by contrast, the terahertz (THz) band - where sensitivity is most urgently lacking and no mature quantum sensor exists - has remained largely unexplored. Here we demonstrate a strong photoresponse of graphene JJs at THz frequencies, establishing a first experimental step towards graphene-based THz quantum sensors. Under low-intensity illumination, we observe a pronounced suppression of the critical current that generates a strong photovoltage (Vph) under current bias. By tracking this Vph and independently measuring the electron temperature as a function of absorbed power, we extract a responsivity of 88 kV W−1 and a noise-equivalent power of 45 aW Hz⁻¹/2 at 1.7 K. Furthermore, gate tunability of our JJ enables access to a regime where hysteretic current–voltage characteristics persist up to 0.9 K, offering a potential route toward single-photon THz detection beyond millikelvin temperatures.

Abstract

Graphene Josephson junctions provide a promising platform for ultra-broadband quantum sensing of light owing to graphene’s frequency-independent absorption, vanishing electronic heat capacity, and weak electron–phonon coupling, which enable rapid suppression of the critical current through radiation-induced electron heating. Existing investigations have been confined to the microwave and infrared regimes, where competing detector technologies are already established; by contrast, the terahertz (THz) band - where sensitivity is most urgently lacking and no mature quantum sensor exists - has remained largely unexplored. Here we demonstrate a strong photoresponse of graphene JJs at THz frequencies, establishing a first experimental step towards graphene-based THz quantum sensors. Under low-intensity illumination, we observe a pronounced suppression of the critical current that generates a strong photovoltage (Vph) under current bias. By tracking this Vph and independently measuring the electron temperature as a function of absorbed power, we extract a responsivity of 88 kV W−1 and a noise-equivalent power of 45 aW Hz⁻¹/2 at 1.7 K. Furthermore, gate tunability of our JJ enables access to a regime where hysteretic current–voltage characteristics persist up to 0.9 K, offering a potential route toward single-photon THz detection beyond millikelvin temperatures.